If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to share space with eland, you’ll know that they command an impressive presence in their herds and habitats. And as we hope this short film expresses, moving one of the greatest antelope in Africa across country, in this case Mozambique, is a mission as mighty as the species itself.

Facing the challenges head-on, Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation undertook this epic operation that translocated 95 eland to fulfil two crucial needs, in two very challenging stages. Santuario Bravio de Vilanculos (Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary), at the tip of Mozambique’s San Sebastian Peninsula, was under pressure from a surplus number of eland, whilst Zinave and Maputo national parks – both co-managed by ANAC and Peace Parks, and the historical home of the eland – have been in deficit. A vital demand for both give and take.

Reintroducing eland to Zinave

Boosting eland numbers in Maputo: https://www.peaceparks.org/eland-mega...

Redressing this balance was a 2-phase mission, executed with the enduring expertise of Conservation Solutions. The game capture – accessing then catching a daunting, running, jumping group of 95 eland – required huge corralling skill to funnel the animals through sand into a holding pen. Then came the transportation: forget 4x4 terrain, this was 6x6; trucks designed to power through terrible road conditions and climbing temperatures, in a multistage drive to deliver the eland safely to their two destinations.

Both Zinave and Maputo national parks already have strong species reintroduction credentials, and modest founder herds of eland, but that doesn’t make this success any less special. When it comes to rewilding, every component – each living creature – makes a crucial contribution towards completing the cycle of the ecosystem. Restoring tomorrow takes great minds and landscapes, and many hands and animals to work towards a brighter, more biodiverse future.